[SOLUTION] Toshiba NB205 netbook blinking white cursor

I picked up a Toshiba NB205 netbook to work on from a client because immediately after the Toshiba screen it would just have a blinking white underscore in the top left of a black screen. When I searched on Google many of the top results were recommending buying restore CDs and reloading. I took out the hard drive and it booted just fine in another computer, so they are giving bad advice. I did find this discussion with so many that have had this issue:

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Batteries-and-Power/NB205-won-t-turn-on-properly/td-p/51431

I recommend reading the whole thing, but here are some highlights:

1. Set your laptop down on a smooth hard surface.

2. Put your left hand on the lower left of the case equidistant between the touch pad and the left edge of the case. About 1″ below the key board and press lightly, not too hard but you should feel the plastic give just a little. (sometimes I have to use my thumb to give it a little upward pull at the front edge at the same time.

3. Turn the power on with your right hand and keep your hand in place through startup…when you remove your hand do so gently.

9 times out of 10 it works on my machine, if your surface is hard and smooth (I use a glass table top, or a polished wood surface)  the pads will grip the surface and when you pull your hand away it will hold position for a good while.

I have also been able to get this to work in my lap by pressing on that general spot and lifting up gently on the front edge at the same time with my thumb. (sokoll99)

and

Step 1:

Take OUT the battery and only use the AC power.

Next squeeze in the general area right above the SD card slot (lower left)  I squeezed firm, squeezing and releasing many times as I powered on.  After about 4 times it worked. (mannyfernandez)

and

Popped the HDD out, put the laptop in the freezer for 10 minutes, reinstalled the HDD and the computer booted. Since it booted into the OS,  I took the opportunity to flash the bios with the latest. It has been working ever since.

To reitterate:

1. Download the latest Bios (win XP Self extracting ). Put it on a memory stick.

2. Remove battery and HDD and freeze computer for 10 minutes.

3. Quickly replace battery and HDD and boot computer. (charged battery is necessary to flash the bios. It has to be plugged in too.)

4. Flash the bios. (tuckerd)

 

After all this mine still wouldn’t boot, but at least it is better advice than doing a hard drive restore.